**Chapter Twelve: The Crystals of Night III**
Now, the sun has set, and we are preparing to confront the Abominations in the castle of the Shadow Demon King.
It has been a little over ten days since I began secretly assisting the mercenaries. It seems that the castle of the Shadow Demon King has become a focal point for the Abominations. While it hasn’t attracted a thousand guests, at least once every three days, some form of Abomination has appeared from nowhere.
The behaviors of the Abominations varied. Lazarus and the others mentioned that the Abominations were ordered to gather underground, which is why they mostly headed straight for the underground passages. However, there were a few who roamed the upper levels of the castle.
Most of the Abominations we encountered were Skeletons. While the majority were low-ranking and had not mutated, there were also some “Black Bones” among them, as well as a few Corrupted Persons (Zombies) and Evil Spirits (Wraiths). If Lazarus and the others struggled against even the Black Bones, they would undoubtedly have been overwhelmed by this wave.
Of course, they were no match for me and Senri (who is currently using the name Ruu).
It was my first time fighting an Evil Spirit, so I was initially taken aback. However, the Light Devourer (Bladewalker) effortlessly sliced through the incorporeal Evil Spirit as if it were a tangible object. This blade seems to be designed to target Abominations. Additionally, the physical form of a low-ranking Vampire repelled the mental corruption wielded by the Evil Spirit, making it easier to deal with than the Skeletons. After all, to kill a second-tier Knight like Senri, a horde greater than the army of Abominations summoned by the Lord would be necessary.
On the other hand, there were aspects of Lazarus and the others’ battles that were commendable. Even if they had no remarkable strength, their courage to fight against the Abominations in the darkness as mere Humans was worthy of admiration. Encouraging their fragile companions and exchanging light-hearted banter while overcoming their fears, they were truly admirable.
“What kind of training makes you so strong?” I asked.
“You just have to do a lot of muscle training,” Lazarus replied.
“…You don’t look that muscular to me,” I retorted.
“It’s about quality over quantity. Besides, you need to be this strong to fight against Vampires.”
As I cleaved through a Skeleton, I answered Lazarus. Senri, who had become quite familiar with me over the past few days, spoke with a reproachful tone.
“Barona, try to maintain a sense of urgency.”
“It’s fine. I’m not being careless.”
Currently, I was concealing my presence with three “Crystals of Night” (Knight-Crystals). Due to their small size, a single crystal could only conceal a limited amount of negative energy, but with three together, I would likely go unnoticed by the Eclipse Knights. In fact, Senri had confirmed this.
I had already thoroughly explored the Shadow Demon King’s castle. To a Human, the interior would appear pitch black due to the lack of light sources, but for a Vampire with eyes that pierce the darkness, it was not a challenge at all. There was nothing new within the castle. There were no valuable objects, and while the ancient castle intrigued me, I found nothing beyond that. The information that it had been abandoned long ago seemed to be true.
If it were just this, I would have deemed it unremarkable and left quickly. However, what held me back was the underground.
Of course, I had thoroughly investigated the underground as well. The underground passages were labyrinthine, but they weren’t particularly vast, and I had already mapped them out. Perhaps it was an escape route for emergencies; the rugged underground path bore the marks of time, but it was merely a passage devoid of magical creatures.
However, in this underground, the “Crystals of Night” were “spawning.”
Initially, I had collected the crystals when I assisted Lazarus and the others, but on the day after that, they had reappeared when I returned with them. At that time, I thought perhaps I had overlooked a crystal on the first day. When I helped Lazarus and the others, I had hastily retreated without thoroughly searching the underground, so it was not impossible that I had left some behind.
Yet, two days later—when I discovered the Crystals of Night once more, my doubts turned into certainty. There was no way they were left behind. The Crystals of Night emitted a unique aura that only Abominations could sense. No matter how small they were or how well they blended into the darkness, I couldn’t have missed them.
We decided to hunt here for a while.
The spawning mechanism of the crystals remained a mystery. However, the Crystals of Night were valuable. The more, the better. Though they gave off an indescribable sense of unease, it was best to collect as many as possible.
At this point, it was clear that the objective of the Abominations that appeared every night was the crystals. Senri would surely not overlook this. I had no intentions of considering the safety of the other Abominations.
I entrusted the watch to Lazarus and the mercenary group, sitting down to jot down notes in the notebook Senri had brought me.
“What are you writing?” Lazarus asked.
“It’s a secret.”
“………”
Perhaps it was due to the display of strength I had shown at the beginning, but Lazarus and the others respected my wishes. They showed no signs of wanting to interfere with Senri.
What I was writing down was the cycle of appearances for the Crystals of Night.
On the first day, they had fallen when I assisted Lazarus and the others. The following day, there were none. It seemed Lazarus and the others had decided to take a break that day after consulting with the client. On the third day, when I returned with Lazarus and the others, they had fallen again. The next day, there were none. The day after that, there were none as well. But on the following day, they appeared again.
I summarized the timeline with a pen in hand.
Initially, they had respawned after a one-day gap, but the next time they reappeared was two days later. It didn’t mean they would respawn after just one day. I continued to write down occurrences for each day as far as I could remember.
**Day 1:** Present. Assisted Lazarus and engaged in battle with numerous Skeletons and Black Bones, defeating them.
**Day 2:** Unconfirmed.
**Day 3:** Present. Engaged in battle with Skeletons.
**Day 4:** None. No Abominations appeared.
**Day 5:** None. Engaged in battle with Skeletons. Defeated two Black Bones.
**Day 6:** Present. Engaged in battle with Skeletons.
**Day 7:** None. Engaged in battle with Evil Spirits and Corrupted Persons.
**Day 8:** None. No Abominations appeared.
**Day 9:** None. No Abominations appeared.
**Day 10:** None. No Abominations appeared.
In recent days, no Abominations had appeared. It was possible they had given up, but according to Lazarus, it was not uncommon for several days to pass without a raid. Then, I realized something.
…Could it be that the Abominations created after defeating a mutated one appear the next day?
I still lacked sufficient trials to confirm this, but if it were true—this would be quite troublesome. The emergence of mutated Abominations was not something I could determine. I was also curious about what would happen if I failed to defeat them.
However, if this hypothesis were correct, it would increase the likelihood that the power emitted by the Abominations was related to the creation of the Crystals of Night. Perhaps, if I figured it out, I could learn to create them myself. After all, I had the foundation to use Necromancy.
Of course, whether Senri would permit that was highly questionable.
As the Lord’s masterpiece, I had the potential to grow stronger. There was room for expanding my influence. The quickest way to become stronger was to gather allies. There were Demonic Natures like Oliver, who unconditionally obeyed Vampires. However, to grow stronger, I would have to engage in ethically questionable actions. And Senri did not desire that.
The beloved Senri, who had always protected me, was a greater obstacle than anything else. It was a troubling dilemma.
As I indulged in this luxurious worry, Senri, who had been on watch with Lazarus, called out to me.
“Barona, a large presence is approaching.”
“Hmm… Is it another Black Bone?”
“More than that, it’s above us.”
Senri’s expression showed no discernible emotion, but I could sense a hint of tension from him.
Something larger than a Black Bone… This would be a first. So far, no Skeletons had appeared today. I stood up, and at that moment, my previous worries dissipated. I had no intention of choosing to separate from Senri. Moreover, having acquired multiple Crystals of Night made that goal feel increasingly attainable.
As I focused my awareness, I could feel the air trembling slightly.
No, it was different. This was—the sound of footsteps. They were still distant, but they were quite “large.”
“Can they enter the underground passage?”
“They cannot.”
Senri answered immediately. His ability to sense the presence of Abominations and his knowledge far surpassed mine.
It seemed that the sorcerer who had been dispatching Skeletons had grown impatient. Were they calling for the Abominations to come out, or did they intend to fill the underground passage with something impossible?
I informed Lazarus and the others, who were still unaware, and we headed upward together. They were struggling against the Black Bones, and having them with us would only be a hindrance. It was better for them to be safer, even if they were not needed.
As we neared the surface, the tremors intensified. Senri spoke.
“Most likely, it’s a ‘Giant Skeleton.'”
“A Black Bone mutates into a larger form?”
“No, it’s created using the bones of a Giant Person. However, its strength surpasses that of a Black Bone.”
A Giant Person, as the name suggests, resembles a person but is said to be several times larger than an ordinary human.
Due to their immense size, they possess a unique culture and are said to rarely appear in Human cities. I have, of course, never encountered one myself, but from what I’ve heard, they are all exceptional warriors. Given their stature, they must be incredibly strong.
However, I see… so that’s how it is. This is quite enlightening.
They are a race known for their brute strength. I have no intention of testing my strength against them, but I am a little curious about how they compare to a Lower rank Vampire.
I dashed through the dungeon and burst outside. In that moment, the ground shook violently.
“What the—!?”
My eyes widened. There was no need to search for what was necessary.
It was simply enormous.
Before me stood a Skeleton with golden bones. Each bone was far thicker than my torso, glimmering dully in the darkness. I couldn’t grasp its full form at first glance, but its eye sockets emitted a sinister red light, staring down at me from the partially collapsed ceiling.
The Demon King Rainer was also massive, but Rainer walked on four legs and rarely stood upright on his hind legs, so in terms of pure height, this creature was likely greater.
Moreover—this was no ordinary opponent. The massive figure resembled something out of a nightmare, but there were countless Skeletons lurking nearby. Not just ten or twenty.
“‘Black Bones’ are here too.”
“A full-scale assault, then.”
The fact that they had gathered such numbers without launching an attack yet suggested a high level of coordination. Still, this was excessive firepower. I doubted Lazar and the others could hold their ground against this.
…Wait, did they gather this much strength because they were repelled by the ‘Black Bones’? If that’s the case, I feel a bit guilty.
The giant Skeleton let out no roar. It simply gazed down at me in silence. This was my first encounter with a giant race, and its size was truly staggering. Even with its hollow bone structure, it exuded an incredible sense of intimidation. I gave up on the idea of a strength contest. The difference in our physiques was just too great.
How on earth was I supposed to fight such a colossal Skeleton? If, hypothetically, this size of Skeleton wielded a suitably massive sword and swung it without hesitation, this half-collapsed castle would stand no chance. No, a single punch could likely obliterate the walls.
But that’s fine. The opponent is gigantic and lacks agility. With my Jumping ability, I could easily leap up to its head. Though it wore armor, it was so oversized that it was practically useless. I could aim for its neck and strike it down before it could retaliate.
This was a perfect opportunity to show Senri my strength.
I licked my lips in anticipation of facing a formidable foe and said to Senri,
“Senri, I’ll take care of the giant.”
“‘Annihilation (Photo N/A-Delete)’!”
—
“I wanted to fight…,” I muttered.
“I’m sorry. But that was the best option,” Senri replied, looking slightly apologetic. That expression only deepened the ache in my heart.
No matter how many times I looked, the power was astonishing. The beam of light Senri unleashed sent the giant Skeleton flying in a single blow, rendering it utterly helpless. It was no longer even a battle. Had that light been directed at me, even as a relatively strong Lower rank Vampire, I would have been obliterated in an instant.
Perhaps I could have defeated the giant Skeleton, but taking it down in one hit was impossible. In terms of Annihilation techniques, Senri was nearly invincible.
What was even more terrifying was that this ‘Annihilation’ technique was not Senri’s original but rather a signature move of Epe. Given that it was Epe, I had no chance of winning; it seemed my only future was one of retreat.
Despite my dejection, Lazar and the others were in high spirits. Perhaps it was because they had wiped out the Annihilation creatures. Without us, they would have surely been killed, yet they seemed so carefree.
“Cheer up, Bal N/A. If you keep sulking, your wife will leave you,” one of them teased.
“I have my pride too, you know.”
I knew Senri could defeat the giant Skeleton, but still, it felt unfair. Where was I supposed to place the fist I had raised in defiance?
“Well, cheer up. We took down a giant. If we report this, we’ll get extra pay. It’s a win-win, right? I’ll treat you to a drink,” Lazar said.
“Thanks for that…”
Just don’t take me to a place that serves garlic. I’ll end up emptying my wallet; don’t underestimate a Vampire’s power.
As I pondered this, a question suddenly crossed my mind.
Lazar and the others were hardly strong mercenaries. They could defeat Skeletons, but they would struggle against the Black Bones, and they would have been forced to retreat against the giant Skeleton.
However— they were not weak mercenaries either. They had enough skill to handle magical creatures that appeared on the roads, and they had been wielding swords for far longer than I had.
The town of De Sen/ADoro was peaceful. There hadn’t been a war in ages, and the level of mercenaries visiting was likely lower than my own.
“……Lazar, have there ever been any deaths during the Annihilation creature hunts?”
“Deaths…? No, apparently there have never been any casualties on the mercenary side. After all, the creatures that appear are usually weak… we were just unlucky,” Lazar said, frowning.
So it’s true… Lazar and the others are mercenaries, and they must be selective about their jobs because they lack significant strength. If this could be summed up as “bad luck,” then that would be one thing, but…
Senri also wore a puzzled expression. Something felt off. Everything felt wrong. Yet, we couldn’t pull back. We had the power of the Impossible. This conviction made the allure of the night crystal’s power far too tempting to abandon.